Dennis (Denny) E. Newton, Jr. died July 14, 2012 surrounded by family, listening to music he loved.

He was born in Slidell, Louisiana, August 14, 1918 to Dennis E. Newton, Sr. and Ausie Culley Newton, but was back in Texas before his 1st birthday. He lived all over Texas throughout his youth following his father's job supervising laying of pipe for oil transport. In 1931, the family moved to Kirbyville, and began farming 44 acres, living in a log cabin that he, his dad and his grandfather built from pine trees they cleared from their land. He attended Texas A&M College until 1939, studying geology and business administration. He then worked for the Texas Department of Transportation and married Mary Collins of Alvin, Texas on January 4, 1941. He soon joined the US Navy and served in the Aleutian Islands during WWII achieving the rank of Petty Officer 2nd Class before discharge in February, 1946. In 1947 he worked for Union Carbide in Texas City, Texas and was promoted to corporate headquarters in New York City in 1954. His love of Texas brought him back to Houston in 1957 where he worked for the next 50 years. He joined Brown and Root, Inc. in 1973 rising to the position of Vice-President of Procurement. He especially enjoyed his many years of international business travel to Asia, Europe, and the Caribbean, embracing cultures, learning languages and making many lifelong friends. During his career, he was president of the National Association of Purchasing Management and was invited to serve on the Minority Purchasing Council for the State of Texas by Governor Bill Clements.

In retirement he spent many years travelling with his wife and enjoying poker, bridge, golf, creative writing, music and dancing. His last few years were spent full of service, friendships and fun at Treemont Retirement Center in Dallas, Texas. He will be remembered for his ready jokes, his laughter, his zest for life, love of travel, knack for languages and flair with words. Always the life of the party, Denny touched the lives of many and is beloved by all who knew him.